Jobs-Housing Balance (American Planning Association: Planning Advisory Service Report)

Jobs-Housing Balance examines a controversial concept. Some have argued that the market is the mechanism that will achieve balance between jobs and housing. Weitz, in his research of four types of jobs-housing imbalance, concludes that, in fact, the market has failed to achieve balance in three of the four jobs-housing balance scenarios he lays out. He provides a number of case studies to support his findings, including one from King County, Washington, showing that increases in housing costs are more gradual in areas with a jobs-housing balance. This report counters the skeptics and points to those actions planners can take to help bring appropriate housing, jobs, and workforces together, resulting in overall community improvements.